Not exactly seventh heaven

Oh noes, my favorite conbini is in trouble! (Well, tied for favorite, anyway — I also love Lawsons.) If you’ve been to Japan, you are of course familiar with the ubiquitous conbini. These convenience stores can seem like little pockets of heaven where you can get everything you might ever dream of in one easy swoop. But things aren’t always as convenient as they seem. I guess that’s just the way the meron pan crumbles.

直訳 (literal translation)Investigation into Seven Eleven – FTC suspects limiting discounts, antitrust violations
It was learned on the 20th that the Fair Trade Commission is carrying out an investigation of the convenience store industry leader, Seven Eleven Japan (Tokyo), because there are suspicions that the company used its superiority in its dealings against franchise stores to limit the discounting of unsold lunches and baked goods and questions of antitrust (unfair trade practices).

Under the FTC guidelines, for the headquarters of a franchise to limit the discounted prices at which franchise stores can sell merchandise with short expiration dates and force them to dispose of goods corresponds to the “abuse of dominant position” in the law.

According to related persons, there is suspicion that the company unfairly limited price cuts by intimating ending the franchise contracts of franchise stores that discounted unsold merchandise and so forth.

意訳 (slightly more liberal translation)FTC investigates 7-11 for limiting discounts, antitrust violations
The Fair Trade Commission is carrying out an investigation of convenience store industry leader, Seven Eleven Japan (Tokyo), for antitrust violations and unfair trade practices, arising from suspicions that the company abused its power in dealings with franchise stores to limit the discounting of unsold lunches and baked goods.

Under the FTC guidelines, for the headquarters of a franchise to limit stores’ ability to discount merchandise with a short shelf life, and thus force them to dispose of goods, is an “abuse of dominant position.”

There is suspicion that the company unfairly limited discounting by threatening to end the franchise contracts of stores which discounted unsold merchandise.